the last of them passing into kuwait in the early-morning hours. over seven years before, american troops and coalition partners had fought their way across similar highways. but this time no shots were fired. it was just a convoy of brave americans making their way home. of course, the soldiers left mitch behind. much behind. some were teenagers when the war began. many have served multiple tours of duty far from families who have bore a heroic burden of their own and during the absence of a husbands embrace or a mother's kiss, most painfully, since the war began, 55 members of the fourth striker brigade made the ultimate sacrifice. part of over 4400 americans who have given their lives in iraq. as one staff sergeant said, i know that to my brothers in arms who fought and died, this day would probably mean a lot. those americans gave their lives for the values that have lived in the hearts of our people for over two centuries. along with nearly 1.5 million americans who have served in iraq, they fought in a far-away place for people they never kne